Deer can be a huge nuisance for gardeners, as they have a tendency to munch on many popular plants, including the delicate baby’s breath. If you want to have success growing this ethereal flowering plant, it’s crucial to know how to protect it from hungry deer. After dealing with deer destroying baby’s breath in my own garden, I learned through trial and error the most effective ways to safeguard these plants. Here are the top strategies I’ve found for deterring deer and keeping baby’s breath thriving.
Understand the Deer Threat
The first step is understanding why deer target baby’s breath in the first place. Deer are attracted to the tender foliage and blooms of baby’s breath plants, which provide moisture and nutrients. New growth is especially enticing. Deer can quickly destroy baby’s breath by nibbling leaves stems, and flower buds. They may even eat plants down to the ground. Knowing deer’s motivation helps you better thwart their efforts.
Use Physical Barriers
One of the best protections against deer is physical barriers. Fencing around your entire garden or individual baby’s breath plantings is ideal. For small areas, chicken wire or wire mesh forms an inexpensive and easy enclosure. Motion-activated sprinklers and noisemakers can also scare deer away. Place these near plants, activated by deer movement. Some gardeners hang bars of soap or bags of human hair, relying on strong scents to repel deer.
Apply Chemical Repellents
Liquid or granular repellents applied to plants ward off deer with offensive odors or tastes. Commercial options contain ingredients like garlic, eggs, or pepper. Homemade repellents work too. Mix eggs, garlic, and hot sauce into a spray. The stench repels deer. Some concoctions use predator urine, which scares deer with the smell of natural enemies. Reapply every few weeks, especially after rain.
Use Plants Deer Dislike
Certain plants naturally repel deer with their aromas Interplant these around baby’s breath as companion plants. Potent herbs like lavender and sage work well. Marigolds, daffodils, and geraniums also deter deer. Alternating baby’s breath with these unappealing plants interrupts deer’s path to baby’s breath and protects it.
Practice Good Garden Maintenance
Don’t give deer places to hide! Prune overgrown areas and clear away dead leaves or debris These provide cover for deer to access plants unseen Keep the garden tidy with regular maintenance, Use gravel or wood chip mulch around baby’s breath and its companions, The crunchy surface alerts you to deer presence, A well-kept garden is much less inviting,
Combine Multiple Deterrents
No single technique is foolproof. Use a multi-pronged approach for best success. Fencing provides an initial barrier, while repellents and companion plants add further protection. Scare tactics and clean maintenance complete the defense against deer. Employ as many deterrents as feasible for your specific situation. Be persistent and proactive in your defense of baby’s breath against these troublesome garden pests.
With knowledge of deer behavior and diligent use of these top protection methods, you can successfully grow lush, vibrant baby’s breath plants. Don’t allow deer to limit your garden dreams. Outsmart them with these deer-resistant strategies. Let your baby’s breath bloom in all its delicate beauty, safe from hungry intruders. My garden is now filled with thriving baby’s breath thanks to these reliable techniques. Your garden can be too!
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Which Plants Deer Like to Eat
Some plants qualify as “deer candy.” We certainly don’t want to be laying out a deer buffet with our hard-earned dollars.
- Avoid planting narrow-leafed evergreens, especially arborvitae and fir.
- Deer also show a particular preference for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy, according to researchers from the University of Rhode Island, who have studied white-tailed deer damage to nurseries.
Interestingly, several participants in the study noted that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized to those that haven’t.
Which Plants Deer Don’t Want to Eat
Not surprisingly, deer tend to stay away from poisonous plants. Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers that deer avoid.
- Deer also tend to turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, and lavender, as well as flowers like peonies and bearded irises, are just “stinky” to deer.
- Would you want to eat something prickly? Neither do deer (unless they’re desperate). Plants such as lamb’s ear are not on their preferred menu.
Growing Baby’s Breath: How to Plant and Care For Baby’s Breath
FAQ
Do deer eat baby’s breath plants?
What plants do deer hate the most?
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ANNUALS
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Coleus, impatiens, pansies and violas, petunias, and zonal geraniums (Pelargonium)
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SHRUBS
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American arborvitae, evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas, hybrid tea rose, yew
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PERENNIALS
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Daylily, goat’s beard, cranesbill geranium, hosta, Solomon’s seal
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GROUNDCOVERS
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English ivy, lilyturf, wintercreeper
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Does baby’s breath come back every year?
Does baby’s breath need full sun?
How do you use Baby’s Breath in a garden?
Here are some ideas for incorporating Baby’s Breath into your garden design: Cottage gardens: Baby’s Breath pairs well with other traditional cottage garden plants like roses, peonies, and delphiniums. Plant it among these flowers to add a soft, romantic touch and fill gaps in the border.
How do you grow a Baby Breath plant?
Dig a hole two or three times as wide and deep as the plant. Remove your baby’s breath from its container and place it in the hole. You will want to line the crown of the plant (where the stem meets the roots) with the soil line. You might need to fill in the hole you dig a bit to get it to the right depth.
Can You Plant Baby Breath from seed?
Direct seeding can be done once the soil warms. Wait to transplant seedlings started indoors until after your last frost. Baby’s breath is commonly started from seed, although you may be able to find it in garden centers in the spring. Use cell packs, seed flats, or soil blocks. Prepare with a well-moistened seed starting mix.
Can Baby’s Breath grow in soil?
Baby’s breath plants can grow in a range of soil types, as long as they have good drainage. Sandy soil works well, whereas wet clay soil does not. So if your soil is heavy, consider planting baby’s breath in raised garden beds or containers.